Justice committee denies impeach vote a warning vs High Court

THE House justice committee which declared sufficient in substance the impeachment complaint against a Supreme Court (SC) justice on Wednesday denied that the decision was a warning to the members of the High Tribunal.
“This has nothing to do with what is happening between the executive and the judiciary… We should allow things to just settle down,” panel chairman Niel Tupas Jr. said in a chance interview.
The 40-7 vote on the impeachment complaint filed against Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo was reached amid an apparent feud between the executive and the judiciary after President Benigno Aquino III earlier criticized the SC in a forum where Chief Justice Renato Corona was also in attendance.
House Minority Edcel Lagman, however, believes otherwise.
Lagman said the voting sets a bad precedent and was “expedited as support to the tirade being made by the President against the SC and its justices.”
The seven members who voted against the sufficiency in substance were Diwa party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay, and allies of former President Macapagal-Arroyo, namely: Mitos Magsaysay, Amelita Villarosa, Arthur Yap, Rodolfo Albano Jr., Danilo Suarez, and Lagman.
Del Castillo, a former Court of Appeals member, was appointed by Arroyo to the High Court on July 29, 2009.
He was accused of plagiarizing a High Court ruling on comfort women during World War II with at least 11 lawmakers backing his impeachment.
Del Castillo is required to submit a reply within 10 days upon receipt of the panel’s decision as the SC expressed confidence that he can explain himself in the proper forum.
Unlike Lagman, the SC refused to question the timing of the House vote since this has been pushed back a couple of times.
“There are some views to that effect but we don’t want to speculate on the timing of the voting. We looked at it face value. We don’t want to put political undertones on the vote done in the House,” he said, adding that he is unsure if Del Castillo’s predicament will be discussed in next week’s en banc session.
What is clear, for now, is that Del Castillo can still participate and decide on cases lodged before the High Court since no law is stopping him doing otherwise, according to Marquez.
Excerpts of Del Castillo’s assailed ruling were allegedly borrowed without proper attribution from “A Fiduciary of Theory of Jus Cogens” by Evan Criddle and Evan Fox-Decent, “Breaking the Silence on Rape as an International Crime” by Mark Ellis, and “Enforcing Erga Omnes Obligations in International Law” by Christian Tams.
The vote was reached after a lengthy discussion on the supposed encroachment of the SC on the power to impeach exclusively granted to Congress under the Constitution.
“Whenever somebody files a case on their own, they (SC justices) should not act on it. They should tell the people to go to the House of Representatives. The public is misled by the Supreme Court thinking that they can act (on it),” justice committee vice chairman Rodolfo Fariñas said.
In October 10 last year, the SC ethics committee found Del Castillo not guilty of misconduct when he committed plagiarism.
Fariñas said it is only the House of Representatives which can discipline impeachable officers, including SC justices.
For the impeachment complaint to be voted upon in plenary, members of the justice panel should then determine sufficiency in grounds, and probable cause on allegations hurled against Del Castillo.
At least a third, representing 95 of the 285-member House, is needed to elevate the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
Tupas said he was quite surprised with the outcome of the voting on sufficiency in substance, considering that the impeachment complaint was not based on the usual corruption charges.
Last May 18, the panel voted a close 11-10-1 finding the complaint sufficient in form.
“There is now a precedent setting that citing sources without proper attribution constitutes betrayal of public trust,” he said.
The committee has only 10 session days left to wrap up the impeachment proceedings.
Congress will be on a one-month break from December 16 to January 16, 2012. (Kathrina Alvarez/Virgil
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/08/justice-committee-denies-impeach-vote-warning-vs-high-court-194626

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com